Housing for signal and communication apparatus



April 12, 1949. E. w. BREISCH HOUSING FOR SIGNAL AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1946 3 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR idya Wfimzrcb H115 ATTORNEY LL1 (i 4 E. W. BREISCH April 12, 1949.

HOUSING FOR SIGNAL AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 19 16 I :f 'CIIIIIT:

11v VENTOR. Edgar WBmz'so/z.

HIT ATTORNEY April 12, 1949. E. w. BREISCH 2,467,110

HOUSING FOR SIGNAL AND COMMUNICATIONYAPPARATUS Filed March 29, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y Edgap IV aim HIS' ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1949 HOUSING FOR SIGNAL AND COMMUNICA- TION APPARATUS Edgar W. Ereisch, Edgewood, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 29, 1946, Serial No. 658,361

4 Claims.

My invention relates to housing for signal and (communication apparatus, and more particularly to housing for such apparatus mounted on a rail- Way train.

Signal and communication apparatus is often located where it is subjected to severe vibrations and shocks which tend to disturb the normal operation of the apparatus and cause mechanical damage thereto. For example, signal and communication apparatus mounted on a railway train is subjected to severe vibrations caused by the train in motion and to violent shocks due to the starting and stopping of the train.

Accordingly, a feature of my invention is the provision of novel and improved housing for signal and communication apparatus to protect the apparatus from vibration and shock.

Another feature of my invention i the provision of apparatus housing of the type here involved incorporating novel means for resiliently suspending the apparatus to prevent mechanical damage and faulty operation due to vibration and shock.

A more specific feature of my invention is the provision of apparatus housing suitable for use on railway trains, and which housing is of novel construction to be weatherpnoof, to cushion the apparatus, to facilitate the wiring of the apparatus, to assure the placing of assemblies of the apparatus in preselected positions only and to firmly lock each assembly in position,

Other features, objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification progresses.

To attain the foregoing features, objects and advantages of my invention, I provide a housing made up essentially of two major parts, an outer enclosing box and an inner resiliently mounted shelf. The outer box is preferably [of metal construction of dimensions preselected to accommodate the apparatus to be housed. The box is provided with a door that opens up substantially one side of the box to facilitate the handling of the apparatus and to facilitate the wiring. The door is constructed to permit the use of weather stripping and is provided with means by which it can be drawn firmly into place. The box is provided with one or more openings to which conduit hubs can be fitted for securing conduits carrying the circuit wires of the apparatus. Such a construction for the outer box makes the box weatherproof. Preferably, lifting eyes or straps are secured to each end of the box to facilitate the lifting of the box into place on the mounting brackets or supports on which the apparatus is located. Tubular members are constructed, one in each corner of the box to fit over corresponding posts of the mounting brackets to firmly secure the box in position.

The shelf is of channel construction to provide rigidity and it is made somewhat shorter and narrower than the inside of the box to allow space between the shelf and the sides of the box. The shelf is surrounded on the rear and across each end with a vertical steel member.

Novel shock absorbers or suspension units are provided for suspending the shelf in the box. Each such unit is of a synthetic rubber member bonded directly between steel plates. One or more such units are provided for each end of the shelf. One plate of each unit is bolted or other wise secured to the box and the other plate of each unit is bolted to the adjacent vertical member of the shelf, and thus the shelf is resiliently suspended in the box.

Other shock absorbing units each consisting of a rubber-like member mounted on a plate are secured at spaced points inside the door and on the vertical member at the back of the shelf to cushion lateral movement of the shelf.

The vertical member at the rear of the shelf provides means for mounting one unit of a plugin connector usually employed with such apparatus when the apparatus is arranged in assemblies. A unit of each connector is positioned on the vertical member of the shelf to agree with locking mean of the associated assembly so that as the assembly is positioned on the shelf the circuit connector units engage.

A terminal strip is located inside the box at the top and near the front and circuit terminals are mounted thereon, this position of the terminals making it convenient for workmen in wiring the apparatu and in attaching instruments during maintenance testing.

In service the suspension units absorb the vibration and shock to such an extent that the shelf with the apparatus mounted thereon floats freely inside the box. Under impact the first shock is absorbed by direct deflection of the rubber bonding, later transferring the inertia of the shelf in the form of vertical vibration. Field tests under actual service conditions with equipment mounted on the railway locomotive have shown that this arrangement of suspension is so soft and easy that the life of vacuum tubes included in the apparatus is prolonged and mechanical damage to the apparatus is minimized.

I shall describe one form of housing embodying my invention. and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings are a front elevation view and a plan view, respectively, showing a housing embodying my invention when used for railway train communication apparatus, the door of the housing being removed in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1. Figs. 4a and 4b are a front view and a side view, respectively, showing a suspension unit of the housing of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4c is a sectional view taken on .the line IVcIVc of Fig. 4A.

In each of the several views like reference characters designate similar parts.

It is to be understood that m invention is not limited to railway train communication apparatus and this one use serves to illustrate the many places the housing is useful.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the reference character OB designates a rectangular shaped metal box and the reference character SL designates a resiliency mounted shelf, and which two parts are essential elements of the housing of my invention. The box OB is of a metal construction with dimensions preselected according to the apparatus to be housed therein. The front side of the box OB is fitted with a door It, hinged at the bottom of the box at l i, and provided with reinforcing members 9 which are formed with a horizontal slot near the top to receive threaded handledoolts l2 pivotally secured to the top of the box. The door it) is formed with an edge to fit weather stripping it held in a slot in the door frame. Thus when the door is closed and handle bolts B2 are run down, the door is drawn firm- 1y into place to provide a weatherproof joint.

Openings are formed in the ends of the box around each of which a conduit hub i6 is bolted to the box, such conduit hub serving for the connection of a conduit carrying circuit wires into the box. The number of these openings will depend upon the nature of the circuits of the apparatus and in the drawing two openings with conduit hubs are provided at each end of the box.

Two lifting eyes or straps M are firmly secured to each end of the box and serve as a means for lifting the box onto a mounting bracket. A tubular member i is formed in each corner of the box to receive pins of the mounting bracket, and thus retain the box firmly in place on the bracket.

The shelf SL is of steel construction and of channel shape as best shown in Fig. 3, this shape giving rigidity to the .shelf. The shelf is made to fit inside the box OB with clearance at all sides. A vertical steel member ll is secured to the shelf, as by elding, the vertical member I! extending along the back and across each endof the shelf.

The shelf SL is suspended inside the box through shock absorbers or suspension units ,SU, the construction of which is best shown in Figs. 4a, 4b, and ie. Looking at Figs. 4a and 4b, a resilient rubber-like member is, such as neoprene or similar material is bonded in a Wellknown manner to two steel plates l9 and 29. The member I3 is of a rectangular cross section as shown in Fig. 4c, the dimensions being preselected according to the weight of the apparatus carried on the shelf. The member i8 is disposed between the plates is and at a given angle and is of a length to permit a desired relative movement between the two plates. The plate I9 is drilled for four supporting tap bolts and the plate '20 is drilled and tapped to receive two machine screws. In the present housing there are three of these suspension units spaced at each end of the shelf, and as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, supporting metal blocks 2| are welded or otherwise secured to the ends of the box adjacent the location of each suspension unit, and each such block is drilled and tapped to receive tap bolts according to the spacing of the drilled holes of the plate 19 of the suspension unit. The vertical member ll of the shelf is drilled at each location of a suspension unit according to the spacing of the tapped holes of the plate 29. vEach unit is mounted with its plate i9 secured to the blocks 2! and its plate Eli secured to the adjacent vertical member I! of the shelf, and. hence the shelf is suspended by the several sus-- pension units. With no apparatus on the shelf so that there is no weight on the shelf, the shelf takes a given position and when the apparatus is placed on the shelf the weight of the apparatus depresses the shelf due to the resilienc of the members 58 of the several units SU.

Other shock absorber units SUi consisting of a block of rubber-like material secured to a metal plate, are spaced along the front and back of the shelf. The units at the front of the shelf are held in place by the plates being screwed to the inside of the door and the units at the back are held in place b the plates being secured to the vertical member ii of the shelf. The suspension units SU carry the shelf in a floating-like condition and also serve to cushion any endwise movement of the shelf, and the shock absorber units SUE serve to cushion any lateral movement of the shelf.

The shelf SL is equipped with locking and interlocking features for each assembly placed thereon, in the present application it being contemplated that the apparatus will be arranged in three or four assemblies. These locking and interlocking fixtures are preferably similar to the locking and interlocking fixtures disclosed and claimed in my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 6%,736, filed February 11, 1946, for Cabinet for office communication apparatus.

It is sufficient for the present application to point out that at the position of the assembly at the left-hand end of the box as viewed in Figs. '1 and 2, the shelf SL is equipped with two beveled guide bars 2%? and two interlocking plates 3! and 32, and a worm wheel The two guide bars 29 and 3% are accurately welded to the shelf and are beveled to fit two mating guide bars secured to the frame of the assembly and indicated at as and 35. These guide bars are arranged in a V-shaped pattern so that as the assembly is slid back onto the shelf to its final location the guide bars and engage with the bars 29 and 3% on the shelf and the assembly is firmly locked in place against any relative movement with respect to the shelf. The interlocking plates 39 and 32 are secured to the shelf and are provided with slots which mate with pins or plates secured to the assembly frame and only an assembly having pins properly positioned to mate with the slots of the plates on the shelf can be placed in this position on the shelf. The interlocking plates for the other assemblies to be placed on the shelf will be provided with different arrangements of slots, and thus each assembly can be placed only at its preselected posiion.

The worm wheel 33 is secured to a small shaft 41 journaled on the under side of the shelf, the Worm wheel extending up through a slot in the shelf to mate with a rack fixed on the frame of the associated assembly. The outer end of the shaft 41 is formed with a head 42 to fit a Wrench. Thus when an assembly is slid onto the shelf far enough for its rack to engage with the wheel 33 the turning of the shaft 47 serves to draw the assembly to its final position where it is firmly looked through the guide bars against any relative movement between the assembly and the shelf. Similarly, turning of the shaft in the opposite direction will serve to move the assembly away from its final position to a point where it can be readily lifted off the shelf.

It is contemplated that one unit of a plug-in connector for each assembly will be mounted on the vertical member H at the back of the shelf, such connector unit for the assembly positioned at the left-hand end of the box being indicated at 36. Such plug-in connector would preferably be of a construction similar to that disclosed and claimed in my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 629,255, filed November 17, 1945, now Patent No. 2,436,914 issued March 2, 1948, for Detachable electrical connectors. With such construction for the plugin connector some means having a mechanical advantage is desired to aid the operator in joining the units of the connector, and the worm Wheel 33 and the mating rack for the assembly provide such a mechanical advantage.

It is to be observed that similar fixtures will be mounted on the shelf SL at each assembly location.

Terminal blocks 3'! are carried on a terminal strip 38 mounted on brackets 39 secured to the top of the box to bring the terminals at the top and near the door. As shown in Fig. 3, the strip 38 is inclined so that the terminals extend downward toward the door in a position that makes them readily accessible to workmen in wiring the box. Also, this position of the terminals places them where they are convenient for the connecting of instruments in the testing of the apparatus.

The brackets 39 carry cable supports M1 to form a wire chase lengthwise of the box. The supports 48 are shaped to leave a space between the wire chase and the top of the box.

Moulded phenolic clamps 35 and rubber insulated rings 50 are carried on supports secured to the top of the box.

All leads from the plug-in unit carried on the shelf vertical member I! are brought to the top and front of the box through the clamps 45 and the space provided above the wire chase and are attached from the top to the terminals. The in coming wires enter the box through one of the conduit openings I5 and are carried along the wire chase and are connected from the underside to the terminal. In practice, the bottom of the wire chase is removed and the individual wires brought to their proper terminal. After all the connections are made, the incoming wires are cabled and then lifted into the wire chase and held in that position by the supports 46.

Thus the interior wiring and the incoming wiring are segregated. and there is no chance of short circuits or other faults developing due to insulation failure. Also, the wiring is simple and clean cut.

High frequency circuits commonly associated with apparatus of the type here involved can be brought into the box through a special opening I 6 and carried through the rubber insulated rings 50 and drop down to special connections mounted on the rear shelf member I? adjacent the respective plug-in connector unit. When both receiving and transmitting high frequency cables are used, one such cable would preferably be brought in from the right-hand end of the box and the other from the left-hand end.

A grounding capacitor it is secured to the lefthand end of the box and a toggle disconnect switch 44 is mounted at the right-hand end of the box, switch at being provided with a handle 4| extending to the front to be convenient for operation by the maintainer.

A housing such as here disclosed has the advantages of being of rugged construction and weatherproof, the apparatus is resiliently mounted so that damage and unsatisfactory operation due to vibration and shock are avoided, the circuits are terminaled and arranged to facilitate wiring and testing and to avoid interference, and the housing with the apparatus in place can be readily lifted and secured to suitable mounting brackets.

Although I have herein shown and described but one form of housing for signal and communication apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a housing for signal and communication apparatus, the combination comprising, a box of dimensions preselected according to the aparatus to be housed and having a weatherroof fitting door at one side, a metallic shelf adapted for the mounting of such apparatus thereon and formed to go through said door and fit in the box with a given clearance at each end, said shelf provided with a vertical member across each end, a plurality of resilient units each of which consists of a rectangular shaped member of synthetic rubber having each of its ends bonded to a metallic plate, said units disposed with at least two units spaced adjacent each end of the shelf, each of said units having one of its plates secured to the adjacent vertical member of the shelf and its other plate secured to the end of the box whereby said shelf is suspended in the box for the cushioning of said apparatus substantially free from shocks, and said door formed to comprise substantially all of said one side to facilitate the positioning of said shelf in the box and the securing of the plates of said resilient units to said vertical member and to the end of the box.

2. In a housing for apparatus arranged in one or more assemblies, the combination comprising, a box having a door fitted at one side and at least one wire opening at one end, a shelf mounted in the box and provided with a member at the rear on which is secured one unit of a plug-in connector to mate with the other unit carried on the assembly when such assembly is placed on the shelf, terminals mounted on brackets secured to the top of the box to bring the terminals at the top and just inside the door, supports mounted on said bracket to form a wire chase lengthwise of the box and with a space between the wire chase and the top of the box, and at least one row of insulated wire clamps secured to the top of said box back of said space, whereby each wire from the plug-in connector unit can be brought to the top and-front of the box through said clamps and space to be attached from-the top to-the proper terminal and each wire brought in through said opening can be run along said wire chase to be attached from the bottom to the proper terminal with the interior wiring and incoming wiring segregated to avoid short circuits due to insulation failure.

3. In a housing for apparatus arranged in one or more assemblies, the combination comprising, a rectangular box having a door fitted at one side and a conduit opening at one end, a shelf mounted in the box near the bottom to receive said assemblies, terminals mounted on brackets secured to the top of the box to bring the terminals at the top and just inside the door to facilitate wiring and testing, support members secured to said brackets to form a wire chase just back and below said terminals and with a space between the wire chase and the top of the box, whereby lead wires from the assemblies can be brought to the top and front of the box through said space to be attached from the top to the terminals and wires brought in from the outside through said opening can be run along said wire chase to be attached from the bottom to said terminals with the interior wiring and incoming wiring segregated.

4. In a housing for apparatus arranged in at least one assembly and using a high frequency circuit, the combination comprising, a rectangular box having a door in one side and two conduit openings at one end, a shelf mounted in the box near the bottom for receiving said assembly, said shelf provided with a member at the rear for mounting one unit of a plug-in connector to mate with the other unit carried on the assembly, brackets secured to the top of the box near the front for mounting terminals at the top lengthwise of the box just inside the door to facilitate wiring and testing, support members secured to said brackets to form a wire chase below and back of said terminals and with a space between the wire chase and the top of the box, one of said openings disposed for wires brought into the box to be run along the wire chase and attached from the bottom to said terminals, two rows of insulated clamps secured to the top of the box to secure lead wires brought from the plug-in unit to the top and front of the box, said lead wires being carried through said space to be attached from the top to said terminals, insulated rings secured to the top at the rear of said box, and said other opening being disposed for said high frequency circuit wires brought into the box and run through said insulated rings to said plug-in unit.

EDGAR W. BREISCH.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,492 Hull Sept. 9, 1930 1,380,280 Replogle Oct. 4, 1932 2,175,025 Hooven Oct. 3, 1939 2,185,562 Nielsen Jan. 2, 1940 2,235,158 Krenzke Mar. 18, 1941 2,257,804 Lord Oct. '7, 1941 

